I am an MS (Multiple Sclerosis) patient. My consultant had prescribed a weekly dose of Avonex interferon beta-1a 30ug/0.5mL solution, which I have been taking for approximately the past five years.

Unfortunately my MRI results have shown that this medication was not effective. So on the latest visit to my consultant on May 19,I was instructed to stop Avonex interferon and my medication was switched to Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) 120mg, with a schedu­led dosage programme until the next visit to my consultant in January 2017. I was instructed to start taking Tecfidera on June 9.

When I went to amend my Schedule V (yellow card) at the pharmacy I frequent as part of the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme, I was told that I had to wait until September for Tecfidera because this medication is controlled by a quota.

I would like to thank the Malta Tagħna Lkoll team, especially Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and the Minister of Health Chris Fearne, for leaving me and other MS patients without the medication prescribed by our consultants.

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